Album Review: D'Angelo & The Vanguard - Black Messiah

22 December 2014 | 2:54 pm | Sally Anne Hurley

"Let’s simply enjoy and appreciate D’Angelo’s brilliant return."

“FINALLY!” screamed the world when D’Angelo, almost Beyoncé surprise-like, dropped his first album in 14 years.

As a whole, the record sounds like one awesome jam session between the muso and his band The Vanguard. It’s funky (Ain’t That Easy, Sugah Daddy), politically/socially charged (1000 Deaths, The Charade) and really damn good.

D’Angelo has always floated between classic and modern soul, mixing in layers of jazz, pop and funk to great effect. He nails that again on Black Messiah. Comparing it to Voodoo is wrong – let’s simply enjoy and appreciate D’Angelo’s brilliant return.